Bumper



,2 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct; 21 1924.

C. E. PRYOR BUMPER y Filed May 20, 192

NS Y Q, x www, l MIJ MK R v f 3j w1 NWS ct. 21 l 924.

c. E. PRYoR BUMPER 3 sheets-sheet 2 mmlmrmnfmlmlm /IVVENTORr Oct. 211924. 1,512,7@7 QE. PRYOR BUMPER Filed may 20, 192:2 l 3 sheets-sheet 3Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

www Siria CLARENCE E. PRYOR, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO'JENNIE A. SWEAF,

' OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUMPER.

.application filed May 20, 1922. Serial No. 562,320.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that l, CLARENCE E. PRYoR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing atiJersey City, county of Hudson, State of New Jersey,'have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Bumpers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to bumpers.

More particularly this invention relates to bumpers embodying Vaplurality of rails, arranged Vin different vertical planes relative to'the car and assembled relative to one another to provide vforresilientresistance in opposition to encountering obstacles effected as aresultant by the combination of the resiliencies ofthe individual rails.

AA further feature of the invention is the provision of mounting meansfor the pluralitjT of rails whereby the front faces of the rails aremaintained normally and when encountering an obstacle in substantialparallelism and substantially in vertical planes.

A further feat-ure of the invention is the provision of improved meansfor the combined inter-tying of the rails t-o provide for relativevmovement o-f the rails to one another when encountering an obstacle'and thereby give riseto an improved resultant resiliency.

Pursuant to a preferred form of the invention, two rails are locatedforwardly of and respectively above and below a rearward central rail;the rearward rail is mounted in a pair of spaced clips and the clips areyieldingly and adjustably mounted on the spring horns ofthe automobileor other vehicle whereby the rearward rail is maintained substantiallyvertical for all positions of yielding of the clips, and the forwardrails yare intertied with one another and with the rearward rail wherebyin the event of anl obstacle encountering the forward rails aty anylocation between the spring horns the rearward rail is automaticallymoved forwardly in combination with the forward rails to increase theresistance of the forward rails in opposition to the encounteringobstacle and to present the rearward rail in opposition to the obstacle,such movements being effected with the elimination automatically of allthrusts and strains onthespring horns towards or away from another; andwhereby in the event of an obstacle encountering any end portion of aforward vrail laterally of a spring horn, the opposite end portion ofsuch rail operates in combination with the other forward rail'and withthe rearward rail and is moved automatically forwardly to there* byincrease rcombinedly the resistanceV o-f such encountered end portion ofthe rail in opposition to the obstacleand automatically eliminating allthrusts and strains on the spring horns towards or away from oneanother.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detail description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. lf is a top plan View of a bumper embodyingthree rails, two of which are normally'located in advance of the thirdrail, thev same being mounted on the forward pair of spring horns of anyapproved type of automobile and arranged pursuant tomy invention;

Fig. 2 isa front elevation o-f the arrangement shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical central elevation on line S-Bof Fig. l, onan enlarged scale;

Fig. 'i is a sectional elevation on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation as viewed on line 5 5 of Fig. l, on anenlarged scale;

Figp is a detail front elevation of a for ward pivot member, shown inFig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a side elevation and plan view of anintermediate keeper member, shown in Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale; l

Figs. 9 and l0 are respectively detail front elevation and top planview, of a modification, illustrating a different form of intertying ofthe ends of the bumper rails;

Fig. 1l is a detail plan view of a modified rail;

Fig. l2 is a modification of Fig. l, showing a common pivot rodreplacing separate pivot pins of the respective railfcarrying clips; Y

Fig. 13 is a detail vertical sectional view showing a modification ofraiLCarrying clip;

Fig, is a side elevation similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modified formof resilient means for resisting 'ba kward movement'of tied centrally byan improved form of clip:

Fig.A 18 is a central transverse sectional view of Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is a detail front elevation on an enlarged scale of thecentrally-tying clip.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the particular embodiment of theinvention asillustrated in the drawings comf'prises the upper forward'rail 10, the lower forward rail 11 and Vthe central, rearward rail 12.Such 'l forward rails'lO, 11 may be interconnected centrally by means ofthe strap 14, having its upper end bent about the upper edge of theupper rail and its lower end bent about the lower edge of the lower rail11 and Carrying centrally the plate 14a, secured thereto by thevertically aligned screws 14h.

VThe front face of the plate 14a may be mark-ed with a designation ofthe manufacturer, or to indicate any particular style of bumper or beornamented by'an emblem or otherwise to suit the fancy of the purchaser.

Such plurality of rails are movably intertied with one another by theopposite end inter-tying means 15, 16. The rails are supported by meansof the spaced members 17, 18,I carried respectively by the spring horns,

19, of the automobile or other type of vehicle.

.Each mounting member 17, 18, see Fig. 5, comprises the rail carryingclip 21 formed as a vertical U and having the clearance 22 within whichthe rail 12 ris received and locked therein by means of the screw 23,bolt or the like. The rearward portion 24 of each member 1,7, 18,extends integrally from the clip member 21, and comprises a flat centralupper face 24a and a rearward extension provided with the intern'iediateslot 25 and oppositely disposed fork elements 26, 27. The lower portion28 of each member 18 is hollowed to .movably receive therein ,theforward pivot member 29, pivoted at its upper end on the pin 30 and atits lower Vend on the relatively long,^ stout p-in 31.

As will be noted in Fig. 5, the retractile coil spring 32 has its upperhooked end 33 'hung' on the pin 30 and its lower hooked end f34 securedto the pin 35 4extending from one f lug 36 to its opposite lug 36, seeFig. 2.

At the upper rearward portion of each mounting member 17, 18 is securedthe pin 37 which is removably mounted inthe oppositely disposed forkmembers 26, 27 and extends across the intermediate slot 25. The eye bolt38 has its eye 39 lodged on the pin 37 and the opposite eye 40 of theeye bolt 38 is secured to the pin 41 of the pair of pivot lugs 42. Theeye bolt 38 is preferably arranged to be adjustable in length by meansof the sleeve 43 provided with a continuous threading, say of right-handturn, meshing with the right-hand threadings 44, 45 on each of the endsof thel separable parts 38a, 38b of the eye bolt 38, see Fig. 5.

Preferably, the pair of pivot lugs 36, 36 for the pin 35, the pair ofpivot lugs 46, 46 for the pin 31 and the pair of pivot lugs 42, 42 forthe pin 41, are cast integrally with the base member 47, which issecured to the spring horns 19, 2O respectively, by means of therearward set bolts 48, 48', and locked forwardly by the hooked end 49.

The set bolts 48, 48 are preferably locked by means of the plate 50having a curvature greater than the spring horn 20 and provided with acircular opening 51, through which extends the bolt 48 and further witha slotted opening 52 through which extends the bolt 48. y

The adjustment of the adjustable eye bolt 38 is attain-ed by removingthe pin 37 to free the eye 39 of the bolt 38 and turning the collar 43to attain increased or decreased spacing of the separable parts 38a, 38bof the bolt 38. By the provision of the righthand threadings 44, 45 oftheseparable parts 38, 38h of the bolt 38 any movement of the threadedcollar 43 due to vibration, jarring or the like will not cause anyvariation in the effective length of the eye bolt 38.

.As indicated above, the eXtreme ends of the rails 10, 11, 12 areinter-tied by the interl rail 10 extends for its major portion,substantially rectilinearly and substantially at right angles to thelongitudinal center line of the vehicle, but at the oppositely disposedlocation 53, 53 is bent rearwardly as is indicated at 54 to-ward therespective intertying members 15, 16.' The inter-tying members 15, 16substantially lie normally in the plane of the substantiallyrectilinear, central, rearward rail 12. The lower, forward rail 11 isarranged similarly to the upper,

forward rail 10.

Referring to Fig. 3, the eXtreme end of the upper' railvl() issubstantially in vertical alignment with the extreme' endof the' centmlrail l2 which in turn is in substantially .vertical alignment with theextreme end of the lowermost rail 11. As has been indi cated above, theoppositely disposed means 15, 16 are provided for respectivelyintertying the ends of the upper rails 10, 11 and the central rail 12 toone another whereby to provide for movement of the rails relative to one.another and to eect in the event of encountering an obstacle aresultant resiliency arising from the combined action of the railsrelative to vone another and the elimination of thrusts or strains onthe spring horns toward or away from one another.

As one form of such inter-tying means, 15, 16, I provide, as isillustrated enlarged in Fig. 3, the slotted sleeve extending from abovethe uppermost rail 10 to below the lowermost rail 11, the slot thereofbeing indicated. at 56T56, and of a normal clearsnes, as is indicated inFis e, substantially equal to the thickness of any rail 10, 11, 1.2..Between the central and ythe respective upper ,and lower rails aredisposed the spacing and keeper members 57, ses Fg- 3, each comprisingyan outwardly extending `circular apron 58, an inwardly disposed,cireular lock portion 5,9 .connected integrally by the extension 60, seeFig. 8, with the outer apron 58; the extension 60 is substantially thewidth of any rail 10, 11, 12 whereby there is provided an annular slotlextendinga full circumference excepting .for the width vof theextension 60. lithin such slot 6,1 is locatedthe slotted sleeve 55. Onthe upper face of each keeper member 5,7 is provided a substantiallyrectilinear, diametrically extend-ing rib 62 and similarly 0n the lowerface Ais provided' a substantially l12 the slot 65 for coaction with thelower vrib 63 .of the upper keeper member 57.

- Similarly, for the lower keeper member 57, I provide the slot 66 atthe lower edge ofthe central rail 12 for coaction with the upper rib62ofA the lower keeper member 57 4and likewise the slot 67 at the upper.edge of the lowermost rail 11 `for receiving` the lower rib .63 of thelower keeper member 57.

,The vtop keeper member 66 corresponds in construction to `the aforesaidintermedilate keeper members 57 and like parts are `marked with .thesame reference numbers;

however, the top keeper member 68 extends integrally, as is indicated at69 for the full diameter of the lock portion 59 4to thereby fill thespace within the hollow capxZO three-,ded to the .upper threaded .end.711 ef the hollow sleeve 55; its rib 6 3 on its lower face is receivedwithin the slot 72 at the upper edge of the uppermost rail 10.

4The bottom keeper member 73 corresponds in construction to the topkeeper member 68 but is of obverse disposition; the rib 74 on its upperportion is received within the notch 75 at the lower edge of thelowermost railll and the lower face 76 ex tends integrally of its lockportion 59, to lill 'the interior of the bottom cap 7 7 threaded to thelower end 78 of the slotted sleeve 55,.

The left-hand inter-tying means 16 correspends construction to theright-hand interftying means 1 5 and like parts are indicated Vby thesame reference numbers.

As an additional means for serving as a rail and further coact-ing withthe spaced clips 21 and mounting means therefor, including the baseplate 53 attached to the .respective spring heres 19., 20, I Provide therod 48() having thernuts 81, 82 at its opposite ends, see Fig. 1, andpassing through the openings 83, see Fig. 5, in the respective baseplat-es 53, 53.

In Vthe event of the bumper, shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive,encountering an obstacle say atl the extreme right-.hand free portion ofthe forward rails 10, 11, the forward railsfwill be flexed rearwardly tothe position 1021 indicated in dot and dash outline in Fig. 1, in whichaction the rearward rail 12 atits rfree right-handV end is flexed to theposition 12aindicated in dot andV dash outline, due to the inter-tyingmeans y15. The position assumed by the inter-tying means 41.5 isindicated at 15a. Such rearward flexing of .the aforesaid right-handparts causes the flexingA forwardly of Vthe left-hand free end portionsof the upper forward rail 1() tothe position 101., land similarly v,thelower forward rail 11, and the rearward rail l12 will be flexedforwardly `to vthe position 12by indicated in dotv and dash outlineydueto the intertying means 16, the inter-tying means being movedforwardly to the position indicated at 16h.

Y Asa result of such mutual coactiom'the resilience7` of the rightfhandfree endy of the .rails struck by .the obstacle, is increased,

resulting in an increased opposition of the struck rail or rails `to theobstacle. The de- 4grec of increase of the opposing resiliency,increases with the extent of flexing of the struck rail from normalposition.

Furthermore, such coactio-n of the rails with .one another, is effectedwithout any thrust or strain inthe .central portion of the rearward rail12 and without any thrust icc In the event of an obstacle encounteringany rail at a central portion thereof, that is to say between the spacedclips 17 18, by reason of the inter-tying of the front' vrails `with therearward rail as above described, the front rails recede bodily in asubstantially parallel movement toward the rearward rail Vand uponcontinued recession of the forward rails the rearward rail is brought invertical alignment with the forward rails to present additionalopposition to the obstacle. Such recession of the forward rails bodilycauses a corresponding recession of the opposite inter-tying means15,*16, Without giving rise to any strain or thrust on the spring hornstoward or away from one another.

It will be noted that in the event of any rail encountering an obstacle,the impact gives rise to a receding of the rails bodily in addition tothe yielding afforded by the extent of receding being dependent upon theresistance of the springs 32, 32, of the respective clips. It will befurther noted that upon recession of the rails, by reasonv of themounting means of the respective clips 17 18 on the sets of parallellyarranged pivotal members 29, 38, the rails are elevated with respect tothe spring horns and at the same time the front faces of the rails aremaintained substantially vertically.

Preferably, the center rail 12 as shown in Fig. 11, comprises aplurality of rails 89 of graduated increasing lengths extendingrespectively centrally between and laterally vof the clips 17 18 therebyproviding for increased resistance between the clips 17, 18, and alsofor a graduated increasing resistance against flexing rearwardly when anobstacle encounters either free end portion of the rails, as isindicated in Fig. 11.

For the purpose of adjusting the effective length of the eye-bolt 38,either eye 39, l0 is freed of its pivot pin, by withdrawing such pivotpin thereby permitting change vin lengthy of the eye-bolt as may bedesired,

Vparts 38a, 38", whereby when the eye-bolt parts are reasonably close toone another and the collar even if turned for the full length of thethreading on one of its bolt parts, engagement with the threading of theother eye-bolt part maintained and uncoupling precluded. yIt desired,one eye-bolt part may be permanently secured to the collar 4:3.

parallel movement of vof the clips 17, 18, and of the rails, an

precludes audible vibrations.

Another modification of inter-tying of the ends of the rails is shown inFigs. y9 and 10, wherein the upper rail 10, as is indicated in Fig. 9,is bent Vat a location indicated generally at 90 rearwardly until suchend portion of the rail 10 assumes a substantially horizontal positionas indicated at 91. 1n a similar manner, the lower forward rail 11 isbent upwardly at the location indicated generally at 93 and rearwardlyuntil ,such end portion of the rail 11 assumes a substantiallyhorizontal position as indicated at 96. f

As is indicated in Fig. 10,V the central rail12 ait each of its oppositeends is bent on itself as is indicated at 97 to form an eye, preferablylocated on its rearward flat face. Between the flat `face 91 ofthe upperforward rail 10 andthe eye 97 of the central rail l2 is disposed thespacing collar 98 and between the eye 97 of the central rail 12 and thehorizontal flat face 96 of the lower forward rail 11 is disposed asimilar collar '99 and the bolt 100 is passed through a suitable openingin the flat face 91 of the upper rail 10, thence through the collar 98,thence through the eye 97 of the central rail 12, thence through thecollar99 and thence through a suitable' opening in the horizontalflattened portion 96 of the lowermost rail 11; the bolt 100 is lockedand tightened in position by the nuts 101, 102 at its opposite threadedends.

The inter-tyingy action at the oppositev ends of the rails 10, 11, 12inthe arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is similar to that describedhereinabove. 'l`he arrangement of Figs. 9 and 10 is simpler in assemblyand derives an enhanced resistance provided for by the bending of thevtop rail 10 and,` bottom rail 11.

In t-he modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the co-action of therespective rails, and the upward, parallel movement ofthe rails bodilyby reason of the parallel pivotal means of the respective clips, issimilar to that described relative to the construction with the`relatively flattened face portion 105,'s'ee Figs. .5 and 14, disposedeccentrically beyond the axis of its pivot pin 31 whereby when the railsare free, such faces 105 encounter the upper faces of the base plates53, 53 respectively, thereby limiting the downward movement of the linkmembers 29 and therewith limiting the downward movement of the clips 17,18. The adjustment of the eye-bolt 38 as above described, is providedprimarily to attain substantially vertical positioning of the-front faceof the rearward rail 12,`and likewise of the forward rails 10, 11 whenthe surface portions 105 vof the respective link members 29, 29 areiii-engagement with'the base members Q53, 53.

"Ifdesired, the pins 31 ofthe respective pivot members 29 maybereplacedby a common pivot rod 31a, see Fig. 12, making a tightconnectio-n by means of a spline, key, weld or polygonal cross-sectionrespectively with thel pivot members 29 of the spaced bumper-'carryingclips 21,whereby upon displacement of any portion of any bumper rail andconsequent upward rotation of either pivot member 29, the other pivotmember 29 is lto like-'extent rotated upwardly by reason of such rigidconnection with such common pivot rod `and thereby bringing intosimultaneousv action both springs 32 vand re lieving the bumper parts oftwisting or bindinv.

Auch commonpivot-rod serves also as atie rod and a barrier. v

1n fFig. 13, I illustrate a modified form of clip for horizontallypivotally carrying one bumper rail 12 or a plurality of bumper rails 12,89, and comprising a yoke 110 eX- teriorly embracing the rail 12 orrails 12, V89 o'nthe vertical frontal face and horizontal upper andlower :faces and further embracing a. 'bulge member 1-11, the latterbeing pivoted jointly withA ythe yoke 110 to the common pivot bolt 112passing through the vertical opening 113 in the clip 24. Upon tighteningthe Ybolt 112, the bulged member 111 isfforced forwardly intocompressional contact with the rail or rails 12., 89, thereby clampingthe same with the yoke 110.

In Fig. 14, I illustrate a modified form of spring varrangement forresisting rearward displacement of the bumper rails, compris ing anextension 114 having an opening 116a for attachment to one end of thespring 115; the other end of the spring 115 is hooked in theeye oftheeye-bolt 116, adjustably anchored on the axle 117 of vehicle. Suchanchoring means comprises a hook member 118 and a o o-acting hook bolt119 passing through an opening '120 in the back plate 121. The`springiholding bolt 116 passes through the opening 122 in the kbackplate 121. Asis indicated in Fig. 14 and also in Fig. 15, the openings120, 122 are arranged on centers spacedfrom one another less than thesum of the maximum radius of thenuts-123',-12r4, respectively of thespring-holding bolt 4116 and the hook bolt 119. Such arrangementprecludes turning of the nuts 123, 124 by mutual engagement with oneanother, under the condition of jarring incident to traveling but uponthe spring-holding bolt 1,16 being forcibly drawn rearward to clear itsnut 123 from eng-agement with the nut 124. In a similar manner, Atherearward end of the spring 115 may be secured to the carspring 11721, orany suitable part ofthe car. In Fig. 16, the back plate 121 is offsetat125 to afford a 'locking shoulder there-at for the nut 123 of thespring-holding bolt 115.

In Figs. 17, 1:8 and 19,-the rail 126 -is formed of a for-wardfintegralportion extending from one free end' to the opposite freeend of 4therail and is bent forward on itself, the ends `being indicated at 127 128respectively and providing a clearance 129 therebetween. The frontratil' 130 is located forward ofthe rail 126 and held in the railholdingclips 110. The central tying -cli 131 passes over the frontal facefofthe 'raiV 130 and over the upper and lower edges of the rail13v0, therail 126 and its forwardly bent end portions 127, 128, and receives inits 4upper and lower openings the bolt-132 rivet lor )the like, passingythrough the-clearaiige 129, and thereby locks the ends 21,27,A From theabove several embodiments v.of my invention, 'it will'be observed thatmy invention provides for an arrangement of multiple bumper railsarranged :to preclude rattling and of relatively light weight and i whenstruck l'by an obstacle to provide for an increased degree of resiliencyand strength against ruptureV and lalso relieving the fixed parts of thecar from undue strains. The lprovision o-f the mut-ual resilientrelation of lthe bumper rails with one another and combined with thedisplacement resistingsprings sets upa resistance against displacementof the rails in the event of en countering an obstacle, in a proportionmaterially more rap-idly than the extent of displacement,r of the struckrail." Such .improved action ensues kby reason of the paths of travel ofthe bumper rails being disposed at a constantly increasing angle to thepath of distension of the displacement resisting springs.

Whereas I have describedmy invention by reference to specific formsvthereofi-t will be yunderstood that many changes and modilications 'maybe made without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim. e 1. The 'combination withthe spring hornsof an automobile orthe like, of afbump'er rail, a clipi normally vholding said rail topresent a face thereof substantially vertical' and means for fyieldingly mounting said/.rail

on said spring horns to provide for substantially parallel verticalmo-vement of said rail for different positions of yielding of said rail.

2. The combination With the spring horns of an automobile or the like,of a bumper comprising a plurality of rails arranged in differentvertical planes, a plurality of spaced clips normally holding said railsto present a face thereof substantially vertical and means foryieldingly mounting said rails on said spring horns to provide forsubstantially parallel vertical movement of said rails for differentpositions of yielding` of said rails. f A

3. The combination with the spring horns of an automobile or the like,of a bumper comprising a plurality of bumper rails, a plurality ofspaced clips normally holding said rails to present a face thereofsubstantially vertical and resilient means mounted respectively fixedlyon said spring horns to provide for substantially parallel verticalmovement of said rails for different positions of yielding of saidrails.

4. The combination With the spring horns ofran automobile or the like,of a bumper rail, a clip normally holding said rail to present a facethereof substantially vertical and means for yieldingly mounting saidrail on said spring horns to provide for substane tially parallelmovement of said rail foil different positions of yielding of said`rail, said ymounting means comprising apair of pivotal links mounted formovement in substantially vertical planes.

5. The combination With the spring horns of an automobile or the like,of a bumper comprising a plurality of rails arranged in differentvertical planes, a plurality of spaced clips normally holding said railsto present a. face thereof substantiallyy vertical and means foryieldingly mounting said railson said spring horns to provide forsubstantially parallel movement of said rails for different positionsof'yielding of said rails, said mounting means comp-rising a pair ofpivotal links mounted for movemen't in substantially vertical planes. s

6. The combination With the spring horns of an automobile or the like,of a bumper comprising a plurality of rails arranged in differentvertical planes, a plurality. of spaced clips normally holding saidrails to presenta face thereof substantially vertical and resilientmeans mounted respectivelyl ixedly on said spring horns to provide forsubstantially parallel vertical movement of said rails for differentpositions of yielding of said rails, said mounting means comprising aYpair of pivotal links mounted for movement infsubstantially verticalplanes.

7, The combination With the spring horns vof. an automobile or `thelike, of a bumper comprising aY plurality of rails, a plurality ofspaced clips normally holding sa-id rails to present a face thereofsubstantially vertical and resilient means mounted respectively iXedlyon said spring horns to provide for substantially parallel movement ofsaid rails for different positions of yielding of said rails, saidmounting means comprising a pair of pivotal links mounted for movementin substantially vertical planes, and supporting means comprising aplurality of pivot members disposed at spaced locations on said rearwardrail. p

8. The combination With a bumper rail, of a clipfor removably supportingsaid rail and means for supporting said clip on a fixed portion of avehicle to provide forl upward movement of the rail in the event ofencountering an obstacle, said clip supr-V portiiig means comprising apair of substantially parallelly arranged links.

9. The combinationvvith a bumper rail, of a clip for removablysupporting said rail and means for supporting said clip on a fixedportion of a vehicle to provide for up-V ward movement o-f the rail inthe event o-f encountering an obstacle, said clip supporting meanscomprising a pair of substantially parallelly arranged links, one ofsaid links being adjustable in length for the purpose of setting therail in a predetermined position.

l0. The combination with a bumper rail,

.threaded members.

ll. lThe combination With a `bumper rail, of a'clip for removablysupportingsaid rail and means for supporting said clipon a fixed portionof a vehicle to provide for upward movement of the rail in the event ofencountering an obstacle, said clip supporting means comprising a pairof substantially parallelly arranged links, oneof said links comprisinga plurality of members each provided With an eye at their opposite ends,said members being arranged in .lon` gitudinal alignment and provided'with threading of the same sense of directionand an interconnectingmemberfi'n ,tlireaded'relation vvith the aforesaid rplurality ofthreaded'member's'. s 'f l s f l2. In a bumper, a clip for a bumper railcomprising a member providedWit-h a recess for receiving a rail,l means.for pivotally supporting saidrec'essed member ony a fixed part of avehicle, said pivotal means comprising an element provided with alongitudinal slot and a spring disposed in said slot and having its oneend secured iixedly relatively to the vehicle and its other end securedfixedly relative to said recessed member.

13. In a bumper for a spring mounted vehicle, having a spring horn, aclip member provided with a recess for receiving a bumper rail, a pairof links arranged in ver tical plane for supporting said clip member, abase member, means for pivotally securing said links to said base memberand means for attaching said base member to a spring horn of thevehicle.

14. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, means for supporting the rail onthe vehicle to provide for upward movement of the rail in the event ofthe same encountering an obstacle, said supporting means comprising aplurality of spaced pivot members 'and pivot means connecting saidspaced pivot members rigidly relatively to one another.

15. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, apair of spaced pivot memberscarrying said rail, means for mounting said pivot members on the vehicleto provide for substantially vertical movement thereof and horizontallyextending means fixedly connecting said pivot members relatively to oneanother.

16. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, a plurality of arms secured tosaid rail at spaced locations thereof, and means for pivoting said armsrespectively to provide for vertical movement of said arms, saidpivoting means comprising a horizontally extending element tixedlyconnecting said arms relatively to one another.

17. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, a plurality of arms secured tosaid rail at spaced locations thereof, means for pivoting said armsrespectivelv to provide for vertical movement of said arms, saidpivoting means comprising a horizontally extendingI element iixedlyconnecting said arms relatively to one another, and displacementresisting springs connecting said arms respectively to a` ixed portionof the vehicle.

18. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, a plurality of arms secured tosaid rail at spaced locations thereof, means for pivoting said armsrespectively to provide for vertical movement of said arms, saidpivoting means comprising an element ixedly connecting said armsrelatively to one another, displacement resisting springs connectingsaid arms respectively to a fixed portion of the vehicle, and means forsecuring one end of each of said springs respectively to the vehicle,said securing means comprising a plate provided with openings, aplurality of bolts passing through said openings and nuts for saidbolts, the dimension of spacing of said openings relative to thedimensions of said nuts providing for mutual engagement of said nuts toprevent unloosening of said nut-s.

19. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail, a plurality of arms secured tosaid rail at spaced locations thereof, means for pivoting said armsrespectively to provide for vertical movement of said arms, saidpivoting means comprising an, element fixedly connecting said armsrelatively to one another, displacement resisting springs connectingsaid arms respectively to a iixed portion of the vehicle and means forsecuring said springs to the vehicle, said securing means comprising aplate having an oiiset portion and an opening adjacent said oiisetportion, a bolt passing through said opening and a nut for said boltcontacting With said oiiset.

20. In a bumper, a rail, securing means for said rail and means forpivoting said securing means tothe vehicle, said securing meanscomprising a yoke having pivot openings, a locking member surrounded bysaid yoke and engaging said rail when said yoke is secured to thevehicle by said pivoting means.

21. In a bumper for a vehicle, a rail and means for supporting said railon the vehicle, said supporting means comprising a yoke engaging saidrail on one face, a. clamping member enclosed by said yoke and engagingsaid rail on an opposite face, said yoke and said clamping member beingprovided With openings and a pivot pin passing through said openingsthereby clamping said yoke and saidV clamping member onto said rail. `f

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciiication this 7th day ofMarch 1922.

CLARENCE E. PRYOR.

